South Armagh, N. Ireland 25-29 June 2003

Fourth Tommy Makem International Festival of Song
25/29 June 2003
By Martyn Kaal

After attending the first three of these festivals I set out for Belfast and Armagh again with high hopes of having a good time (craic), meeting old friends, making new ones and bringing back musical memories. These hopes were never let down. Many, including myself, were of the opinion that this was the best festival so far. Unless my health fails me or the organising committee abandons its station I'll be back again next time, please God.

When the Tommy Makem festivals started in 2000 it was great to be there because we all felt like pioneers laying the tracks for the great railroad that connects East and West. This gave us all a very special feeling of enjoyment and responsibility. This time there were different reasons for turning it into a very special occasion, such as:

-The speed and variation in the programme.

-The good turnout of Americans. A busload took part all the time and more came over on the final weekend. The Americans were exceptionally friendly and cooperative.

-The attendance of the local population at many venues, especially in Belleek, Derrynoose and Mullaghbawn, was very good and there was a lot of cultural mixing between them and the others. They were obviously proud of what was being shown.

-Participants from France, Denmark, Holland, England, China, Dublin, Offaly, Belfast and Cork did boost the international character of the festival.

-Excellent lectures and speeches by a lot of entertaining personalities such as Brian Mullen, Peter Makem, Tommy Makem, Peter Brown, Mick Quinn, and Tommy Sands.

-For the first time a visit to Lough Neagh visitors centre was included. Here we were treated to cultural and environmental information and even to a play, which was extremely funny.

-The critical view of modern Western society put forward at our meetings I found most refreshing and indicative of concern for the future. Without this concern there would be little hope for us all in the Western world.

-The high respect for the music and musicians of the past shown in a long night of commemoration which was greatly appreciated by all, locals and outsiders. Especially the memory of Paddy Tunney who recently left us was brought back into light in a highly intensive way. The families of those that were commemorated turned out in great numbers and in great happiness, receiving certificates stating the merits of those that had done their bit for tradition before passing on to their eternal rewards. Especially encouraging was that the press showed a very keen interest in this particular venue.

-The official recognition shown to the festival by the attendance of local politicians such as the Mayor of Craigavon and the Vice-mayor of Newry.

-The high quality of the music. Especially on the night at Belleek the standards were very high and I can't remember Tommy Makem singing so well, strong and indomitable for a very long time. His rendition of "Four green fields" is something we listeners will not forget. That night there was no stopping him!.

-Opportunities for all participants to join in the singing and put forward a song in a session were much better than in previous years. This was picked up immediately and a great number of fine voices from different parts of the world were heard.

-In spite of the busy programme there was time for reflection, a bit of writing and reading poetry, quiet talk, running in the clean air of South Armagh between Forkhill and Mullaghbawn, a long walk, and a chat with the birds (literally of course) and a fairy tree. Both were in good form, you may like to know.

-Finally, the committee gave a Cead Mile Failte that was a great lift to the heart. Thank you for that Art and Maura O'Neill, all the Makems and Mick Quinn.

The memories that were brought back to me during these five days were great in number and I can mention only a few of them, especially the ones that were included in songs. It was very funny to see the Armagh Rhymers bringing out the faloorieman after hearing David Hammond sing of him, or the Wren Boys made famous by the Clancys and Tommy Makem decades ago. Listening to the Makem Brothers doing the Roses of Prince Charlie, not heard for a long time since the days of the Corries, Brian Mullen making connections between the Nationalist and Protestant music and songs, crossing borders and even the Atlantic with songs like Avondale, the Sash, Water is all right and tae and Garvagh. We were in class with Rosy Stewart singing "The country I'm leaving behind" like in days of yore in Drumshanbo. We heard Mick Quinn doing an extensive version of "the darling men from Crossmaglen put the whiskey in me tay" and Tommy Makem with a full range of songs with many of my favourites like "Carlingford," "Johnny I hardly knew ya," "the cobbler," "Redmond O'Hanlon" and that great song to bring the people together "Wild Mountain Thyme". On holiday in the Carpathian mountains this summer I found the stuff in good quantities and had Armagh in my head as I couldn't stop singing.

Then there was this great mixture of meetings and being shown round by the Quinns and the O'Neills that know every house and every stone in South Armagh, to discuss politics and see Oliver Cromwell with his ugly nose on stage next to Saint Patrick, to listen to a lovely Chinese song and to dig into the Cathedrals of Armagh where I found reference to one of my favourite poets, Ferdowsi from Iran. We were drowned wet getting through the jungle of Derrynoose to the emigration stone and a barndance and nobody cared, the cheer was great. There was the Molloy family I met every day after the commemorative night and they were beaming all the time. There was Thirza, a Dutch singer who lives in Armagh now and used to be a member of our Amsterdam songcircle. There was this bumping into each other, the informal mixing and sharing of a little joy every time with the Makems, with Peter, Pat, Tommy Sands and Dan from Cork and the Americans from Atlanta, Florida, New York, Chicago, Wisconsin and New Hampshire and many more. The best thing was that they were all having a good time, no matter how tired, and showing it and all feeling at home.

So thank you again, members of the committee. It was a pleasure to be there again in the beautiful County Armagh and a great honour to be part of the 4th Tommy Makem International Festival of song.